Adults sadly or usually lose the art of play. So I decided to write this little piece on playing with dolls and getting creative with your imaginations. Dolls aren't just for dressing up and having tea parties with, or teddy bear picnics in the park. Dolls don't have to be human they can be animals and vegetables, brooms and mops or clay pots... To get the most from doll playing with our little ones it's essential to give a wide variation of characters to interact with. To explore different possibilities and figuring out how to cope with different situations.
It doesn't take expensive plastic toys to have fun. It takes a humorous or caring space to be. Let your mind run wild... Where do you think, mermaids and fairies originated.
To begin think basics: Characters, pick your characters, dress them up if you wish., use clothes pegs, sticks, rocks, feathers, pipe cleaners.... Next pick your environment, a castle, house, cave, igloo, boat, island, plantation, jungle, oasis, Africa, Australia, space.....

Its great when the child gets involved in the spirit of adventure. Going on a hike with the dog, over the chair mountain, past pillow berry bush, through a cave (in a sleeve), discover bats and run out. Maybe discuss why be scared about bats etc. Every Item in the house can be an area of imaginative play. Like huts or caves under tables, trays or books can be slides or tents etc. Shoes are vehicles, and hats flying saucers...
Get silly, get weird, Children love the interaction playing with adults. Children love wacky and different characters to play and be adventurous with too. Such as a hungry monkey who steals food when your not looking, how do you teach that character a lesson? Or the brave wild mama wolf protecting her young cubs from predators. My girls like to take their animal dolls outside in the grass and around the trees. We play zoos or jungles, make ramps and swings for the little pieces, caves and burrows for the different creatures homes.
If your little one is showing behaviour you don't like, such as sulky, or bad tempered, or madly frustrated, shy or hyperactive... You can mirror that back with a doll for the child to see, see how they cope or deal with the character showing negative or annoying behaviour. You don't have to be serious, have humour, all is transient what matters is the here and now, why waste energy on a mood when you could be having fun or learning something new. One can do so much with dolls or toys with a little or lots of imagination. The possibilities are endless.
Have Fun with your kids.